ITA Airways Cancelled About 29% of Flights in Italian ATC Strike

October 1, 2026 — ITA Airways (AZ) cancelled about 29% of its scheduled flights on Wednesday, September 30, because of a nationwide air traffic control strike in Italy. Passengers whose flights were hit have until October 7 to claim a refund in qualifying cases.

What happened

Strike window: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 30, 2026.
Who walked out: Air traffic control staff of ENAV, Italy’s air navigation provider, nationwide; Techno Sky staff in the same four-hour window; plus separate local actions at Milan Linate, Naples, Bologna and Bari.
Protected hours: Under Italian rules, flights between 7:00–10:00 a.m. and 6:00–9:00 p.m. keep operating during strikes.
ITA’s response: Customers with cancelled or significantly changed flights can rebook without penalty or, where they qualify, ask for a refund by October 7, 2026.

What it means for non-revs

The knock-on effect lasts longer than the strike. Rebooked passengers fill seats on the following days, so standby out of Italy can stay tight for a couple of days after any strike.
Use the protected windows. On future Italian strike days, flights in the 7–10 a.m. and 6–9 p.m. slots are the safest bets.
Check Italy’s strike calendar before you go. Italian aviation strikes are announced in advance; avoid listing on those dates if your trip can move.